The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-16

WASHINGTON Nov. 10 Commodore T..
u. Wilson, chief OF the bureau Of construc.
ton and repair OF the navy department,
has submitted his annual report to the
Secretary OF the Navy, He rcncws his
Recommendation that two new vessels OF
about 900 tons each shall be- built to re-
place the training ships Saratoga, James
town and Portsmouth, which cannot pos
sibly be kept in service much longer; and
lac asks that special authority he given for
tho ~1aft Of the historic sloop OF war
Hartford. at cost Of SLOT Relative
10 the adaptability of the single turcted
monitors 20 coast and harbor defense,
Commodore Wilson SAYS They are now
q considerable expense 10 the navy, rs
they must be taken care Of, and not being
in proper repair they are ol no use 10 the
country II these vessels are ia he kept
on the naval list, they should be placed
in perfect repair and De fitted with such
modern rifles ~ they art capable of carry
inc. Within six months all OF these YES
sels could be- put in the same state OF elf
cheney ~ they were at the time oi their
construction at an expenditure OF about
SJO0,0n. This would give thr.
teen coast defense vessels actually
available, armed with l5.inch smooth
bore guns. These could be- replaced a.
rapidly as possible by rifles. by no other
means could the same amount Of money
be spent TO give the country such valuable
return"
In conclusion the report SAYS "The
outlook for the navy in the near future il
a very hopeful one, aud. with the compile
ton OF the vessels now projected, the navy
will consist Of number OF modern vessels
admirably adapted to the varied needs OF
the service. The character OF the work
being done on the vessels now building.
and those lately completed. shows that our
shipbuildcrs arr able 10 turn out vessels Of
war second 10 none i'm the world.
"1hc establishment of gun factory at
Washington and the introduction by the
Bethlehem iron works Of plant 10 fur
nish heavy amor and gun fOruings makes
the United States absolutely independent
OF other countries in the construction and
armament Of her ships OF war, and II the |
work II rebuilding the navy is only kept |
mp a. u Is now going We shall soon have q /
navy that will be- credit ~ well as a pro-
tcctiontQ our country and our countys |
inicrcstsP
Tables attached 10 the rcpor, show the !
exact condition Of every vessel In the navy
Thi- table shows that IN three wears We
shall have twcnty-ouc Of the wooden YES
Scli remaining, in six wears but four aud !
IN nine years the entire wooden navy will /
have disappeared. Ljic appendix also con.
taiDs elaborate details statements from the
officers ia charge Of the construction u the
new cruisers and gun-boais and dynamite
cruiser Of the work remaining Ia h. done,
~ well ~ description and plates OF the new |
vessels and monitors, showing their gcn. |
oral dimensions, armament, rig, steam 1
power and other details.
Appended 10 the report is a tahulalcl |
statement oi the estimates OF appropna.
ton Tor the next fiscal year Under the
head OF salaries ia, $50 i asked Tor, SpDO-
OOO j. estimated ior the construction and
cpair of vessels, 80, OIl for the civil csial.
liShmcnt at navy yards, Sl7i. 900 for extra
tools "a Mari Island navy yarl S,0.eD Ion
the construction oi experimental work. Ia
test the resistance of ships NJ the New
York navy yarl, and $500. OOlou account
of hull, and outfits Of new shiI-.